Prevent Rabies, Kupang Regency Residents Are Prohibited From Buying Dogs

KUPANG - The Kupang Regency Government, East Nusa Tenggara Province has prohibited local residents from buying dogs from areas where health status is not yet known, in order to prevent the transmission of rabies.

"People should not buy dog animals whose health status is not yet known because there is currently a rabies case in South Central Timor Regency which borders the Kupang Regency area," said Head of the Kupang Regency Livestock Service Alexander O Matte, quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 31.

He said this was related to the anticipation of the Kupang Regency Government against the transmission of rabies that had been found in Fenun Village, South Amanatun District and Oni Village, Kualin District, South Central Timor Regency (TTS).

In order to anticipate the transmission of rabies in the district, residents are asked not to buy dogs whose health status is not yet known.

In addition, he said, residents who have pet dogs must bind, while if they show symptoms of anxiety, they should immediately report to the nearest animal health officer.

Residents are asked not to throw dead dogs into rivers or seas but must be buried to stop the transmission of rabies.

"If there is a case of dog bites, they should immediately be reported to the health workers at the puskesmas so that they can be treated medically immediately," he said.

According to him, the people of Kupang Regency must also pay attention to clinical symptoms of rabies disease in humans such as nausea, vomiting, sore throat, and severe headaches.

"In addition, other symptoms are afraid of water (hydrophobia) and afraid of light (photophobia) and excessive saliva (hypersalIVAtion)," said Alexander.

Clinical symptoms in rabies-exposed animals such as attacking and biting anything that moves and runs aimlessly and hides in the dark and fears of light.

"Party saliva in dogs is excessive and convulsions are followed by paralysis and can die within 4-7 days after symptoms appear," said Alexander O Matte.